Impact tool

ABSTRACT

An impact tool for such applications as terminating wire in bifurcated terminals comprises an impact mechanism having a hammer substantially enclosed within a power spring. The return spring is located in a passage within the hammer and the impact surface of the hammer is about the internal passage. Thus a large mass hammer and springs which provide substantial impact forces and energy can be utilized without requiring an excessive overall size of length for the mechanism. A variety of heads can be powered by the mechanism for seating and trimming a plurality of conductors simultaneously and for seating multipair connector blocks.

United States Patent [191 Conorich [4 1 Aug. 12, 1975 IMPACT TOOL [75]Inventor: Theodore Alan Conorich, East Orange, NJ.

[22] Filed: Nov. 11, 1974 [21] Appl. No.: 522,329

[52] US. Cl. 29/203 H; 7/l4.l R; 29/203 HC; 29/203 MW; 30/277; 173/120[51] Int. Cl. HOIR 43/00 [58] Field of Search 29/203 HC, 203 HT:203 l-l,29/203 HM, 203 MW; 7/l4.l R; 30/277;

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,572,046 2/1926 Seiler173/120 1,720,318 7/1929 Chisholm.... 173/119 2,245,786 6/1941 Johnson175/92 3,168,750 2/1965 Gattiker, Jr. 29/203 HM :1 I! as Ii }i i 26 1 z3,319,724 5/1967 Cunningham 173/119 3,535,763 10/1970 3,742,573 7/1973Kaufman 29/203 H Primary ExaminerCarl E. Hall Attorney, Agent, orFirm-A. D. Hooper [57] ABSTRACT An impact tool for such applications asterminating wire in bifurcated terminals comprises an impact mechanismhaving a hammer substantially enclosed within a power spring. The returnspring is located in a passage within the hammer and the impact surfaceof the hammer is about the internal passage. Thus a large mass hammerand springs which provide substantial impact forces and energy can beutilized without requiring an excessive overall size of length for themechanism. A variety of heads can be powered by the mechanism forseating and trimming a plurality of conductors simultaneously and forseating multipair connector blocks.

11 Claims, 3 Drawing Figures PATENTEB AUG 1 21975 SHEET IMPACT TOOLBACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION which conductors are inserted fortermination are widely used in the telephone systems. One such connectorwhich is finding increasing usage is known as an SS-type connector andis described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,611,264 and 3,631,378 issued to B. C.Ellis, Jr. on Oct. 5, I97] and Dec. 28, 1971, respectively, andassignedto applicant's assignee. This 88-type connector includes an index stripin which wires are seated and then trimmed. Multipair connector blockssuch as fivepair blocks are then mounted over the index strip toestablish connection with the wires therein. The blocks then provideterminals on their opposite edge to which cross-connect wires can beterminated.

In order to reduce installation time it is required that multiple wirepairs, e.g., five pairs, simultaneously be seated in the index strip andtrimmed if desired. However, the forces and energy required for suchsimultaneous operations on multiple wire pairs and the forces and energyrequired for mounting connector blocks on the index strip are higherthan those which can be reasonably applied by a craftsperson over anextended period with the brute force manual tools presently available.While presently known impact termination .tools such as shown in U.S.Pat. No. 3,708,852 issued to J. R. Mason on Jan. 9, 1973 do eliminatethe brute force requirement of prior tools, they are designed for singleterminal operation and accordingly do not provide anywhere near theenergy and force levels required for the simultaneous seating andtrimming operations on the connector block mounting operation previouslydiscussed. A mere scaling up of these known impact termination tools toprovide the high energy and force levels required would result in a toolmuch too long and large to be practical. Further, these prior tools aredesigned for a different type connector. i.e., a 66-type" connector, andare thus not directly compatible with the newer 88-type connector.

Accordingly it is an object of this invention to improve impacttermination tools to provide higher energy and force levels.

Another object is to provide an impact termination tool which canperform operations on a multiplicity of conductor pairs simultaneously.

Still another object is to provide a tool which can seat and trim aplurality of wires and mount connector blocks on bifurcated terminals.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION therethrough for receiving the plunger. Aconical tapered impact shoulder around this passageway is adapted forimpacting with a conical flange on the plunger. A power spring surroundssubstantially the entire length of the hammer to provide a high acceleration force thereto upon triggering to thereby cause the hammer to impactthe plunger with high forces. A return spring surrounds the plungerwithin the passageway to return the mechanism to its initialconfiguration after the impact.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING The invention will be more fullycomprehended from the following detailed description and accompanyingdrawing in which:

FIG. 1 is a longitudinal sectional view of the termination tool of thisinvention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a portion of one type of head for usewith the tool of FIG. 1 for simultaneously seating a plurality of wirepairs, and for mounting connector blocks; and

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a portion of a second type of head forsimultaneously seating and trimming a plurality of wire pairs.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION As shown in FIG. 1, the tool 101 of this inventioncomprises a hollow cylindrical housing 2 having threaded ends 4 and 6into which threaded end caps or covers 8 and 10, respectively, can bescrewed. Cap 8 has a pin 12 extending therefrom for reasons to bediscussed subsequently. Cap 10 has an axial opening 14 therethrough forslidably receiving a plunger 0r rod 16 therein so that one end 18 of theplunger 16 extends from housing 2 while the other end 19 extends upwardin housing 2. The end 18 of plunger 16 can be threaded or otherwiseadapted to have mounted thereon a head 20 which contacts the wires andconnector blocks to perform the seating, trimming and mountingoperations thereon as will be discussed subsequently.

. Plunger 16 includes a flange or shoulder 22 there about which limitsthe outward movement of plunger 16 by contacting cap 10. One side 24 offlange 22 provides an impact surface or anvil for imparting an impactforce to plunger 16. This side 24 is conically tapered so that flange 22can only deform in compression from an impact force on surface 24thereby eliminating the cantilevered anvil effect which would otherwiseresult from an impact force on an edge or side of the flange 22.

Plunger 16 includes a slot or keyed groove 26 along a portion of itslength. A key or pin 28 extends through cap 10 substantially transverseto plunger 16 into slot 26, thereby preventing rotation of plunger 16 incap 10 while allowing free axial sliding movement.

A heavy mass hammer 30 is located within housing 2. Hammer 30 has aninternal axial opening or passage 32 therethrough including lower,middle and upper portions 34, 36, and 38, respectively, having differentdiameters and into which end 19 of plunger 16 extends. The junctionbetween lower section 34 and middle section 36 comprises a shoulder 40about the periphery of passage 32. Shoulder 40 has a conical taperedconfiguration to match that of side 24 of flange 22. Shoulder 40 is theportion of hammer 30 which impacts plunger 16.

A coil return spring 42 surrounds the part of plunger end 19 withinportions 34 and 36 of passage 32. Spring 42 abuts a shoulder 44 at thejunction of portions 36 and 38 and also abuts surface 24 of flange 22.When plunger 16 is pushed upward through passage 32, return spring 42 iscompressed and thereby tends to return plunger 16 to its initialposition with flange 22 contacting cap 10.

Hammer 30 includes a lip or flange 46 about its lower edge. A relativelylarge or heavy coil spring 50, substantially stronger than return spring42, abuts flange 46 and extends upward about the entire remaining lengthof hammer 30. Spring 50 abuts cap 8 at the top of housing 2 so thatspring 50 is compressed between cap 8 and flange 46 when hammer 30 ispushed upward with respect to housing 2.

A circumferential groove 52 is formed about the upper exterior of hammer30 and includes a slot or wedge portion 54 extending through the wall ofhammer 30 into passage portion 38. A trigger or sear 56 is slidablymounted in slot 54. Sear 56 includes a cam or wedge surface 58 about theupper portion of its inner edge. A spring clip 60 is mounted in grooveand about sear 56 to resiliently urge sear 56 to extend into passage 38.In this position sear 56 contacts the upper end 19 of plunger 16 toprevent plunger 16 from moving any substantial distance upward withrespect to hammer 30.

When a manual force is applied to handle 2 in a direction to causeseating and trimming of wires or mounting of connector blocks engaged byhead 20, i.e.. in the direction of arrow 59, end 19 of plunger 16contacts trigger 56 to prevent further movement of plunger 16 upwardthrough passage 32. Further application of force pushes hammer 30 andplunger 16 upward in housing 2 to compress spring 50. When the top endof hammer 30 reaches cap 8, spring 50 is nearly fully compressed. Atthis point, pin 12 on cap 8 engages the cam surface 58 of trigger 56thereby camming or pushing trigger 56 aside out of passage 38. Whentrigger 56 is pushed aside a sufficient distance, the end 19 of plunger16 can get by trigger 56 allowing the compressed spring 50 to drivehammer 30 downward with respect to plunger 16 so that shoulder 40impacts surface 24. This impact is transmitted to head for the seating,trimming. et cetera operations. Upon removal of the force from handle 2,return spring 42 returns plunger 16 to its initial position for the nextstroke.

The described impact mechanism has significant advantages over those inthe prior art. The placement of substantially the entire length ofhammer within power spring 50 allows a much larger hammer and a longerspring to be used thereby providing substantially greater impact forces.The placement of the return spring 42 and impact surfaces 24 andinternal to hammer 30 is also significant. This new arrangement of theparts of the impact mechanism provides the greatly increased impactforces previously mentioned without significant increases in the overallsize and length of tool 10] as compared with prior art tools providingmuch lower forces.

Head 20 advantageously comprises a holder or housing 70 which mounts toend 18 of plunger 16 by screw threads or the like. Holder 70 includestwo substantially parallel sides 72 having hooks or flanges 74 on thebottom edges thereof extending toward each other. Inserts 76 such ascutting devices. seating devices or combinations thereof are removablyinserted into the ends of holder and held therein by flanges 74 engaginggrooves 78 or the like in inserts 76. Thus various inserts tailored forspecific operations such as seating or trimming conductors can be usedin tool 101.

A pad 80 of resilient energy absorbing material such as neoprene rubberis placed between insert 76 and the top of holder 70. This pad absorbsexcessive forces in certain applications of tool 101. For example, tool101 can be used to seat wires in both rigidly mounted and flexiblymounted index strips. More energy is required in the latter case becauseenergy is absorbed by the flexing of the index strip support.Accordingly, tool 101 is designed to provide the required force levelfor the maximum expected deflection. If tool 101 is subsequently used ona rigidly mounted index strip very little energy would be absorbed bythe index strip support. Therefore, the tools output force level wouldincrease. This excess force would then compress pad 80 absorbing theexcess energy, keeping the force at a safe level so as not to damage theconnector blocks. As an alternative, the output forces of tool 101 couldbe made adjustable by making the position of cap 8 within housing 2variable to thereby control the amount of compression of spring 50 priorto the triggering by pin 12 on cap 8.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of an insert for use in head 20 and adaptedfor simultaneously seating five conductor pairs in the index strip ofthe previously mentioned 88-type connector and also adapted for pushingor mounting a five pair connector block onto the index strip after thewires have been seated therein. Insert 76 includes a body 90 of materialsuch as plastic having a groove 92 separating two sides 94. Mountingslots 96 on the outside of sides 94 are used for mounting insert 76 inholder 20 as shown in FIG. 1. Pairs of fingers or flanges 98 extend fromsides 94 toward each other. When insert 76 is inserted over an indexstrip of an 88-type connector. fingers 98 push the wires previously laidin the index strip into the bifurcated terminals of the strip inresponse to the impacting of plunger 16 by hammer 30. The connectingblocks used in the 88-type connectors can also be held between fingers98 and seated or pushed onto the index strip upon the impacting ofplunger 16. Fingers 98 can comprise an integral part of body 90 or cancomprise inserts mounted in body 90.

An insert 76 for simultaneously seating and trimming five pairs ofconductors as well as seating connecting blocks is shown in FIG. 3. Thisinsert is substantially the same as that shown in FIG. 2 with theaddition of cutters or blades 99 along the top edges of fingers on oneside of body 90. Cutters advantageously are metal inserts which areisolated from each other to prevent any shorting between wire pairsbeing trimmed. When wires have been seated in the index strip by fingersthey are essentially bottomed in the bifurcated terminals so thatcutters 99 can trim the ends of the wires extending from one side of theindex strip to a uniform length. The impact mechanism of this inventionprovides sufficient force to perform both the seating and trimming witha single stroke.

While the invention has been described with respect to specificembodiments thereof, various modifications might be made thereto withoutdeparting from its spirit and scope. For example. various types of headsother than those illustrated could be configured so that the tools wouldmake operations easier and more efficient.

What is claimed is:

l. A tool adapted for terminating wires in bifurcated terminalscomprising a head for contacting said wires. a plunger on which saidhead is mounted for moving said head with respect to said terminals. andan impact mechanism for impacting said plunger to thereby apply forcesto said head to terminate said wires characterized in that said impactmechanism includes:

a hammer having an internal passageway therethrough to receive saidplunger therein, said plungerincludes a flange thereabout and saidpassageway includes a shoulder around the periphery thereof adapted toimpact said flange;

a power spring surrounding substantially the entire length of saidhammer for imparting a force to said hammer for impacting said plunger;and

a return spring about said plunger within said passageway for returningsaid plunger to an initial position after said impacting.

' 2. Apparatus in accordance with claim 1 wherein said flange and saidshoulder have conically tapered mating surfaces whereby the tendency ofsaid flange to deflect when said hammer impacts said plunger is reduced.

3. Apparatus in accordance with claim 1 wherein said head includes:

a holder mounted on said plunger;

an insert detachably mounted in said holder and including a body adaptedfor insertion over said bifurcated terminals. and fingers extending fromsaid body to contact said wires in said terminals. said fingers beingresponsive to said impacting of said plunger for seating said wires insaid terminals.

4. Apparatus in accordance with claim 3 wherein said body includes firstand second substantially parallel sides separated by a groove into whichsaid terminals fit when said body is inserted over said terminals. saidfingers comprise opposing pairs of said fingers extending from saidsides into said groove whereby a respective said wire is contacted onboth sides of said terminal.

5. Apparatus in accordance with claim 4 further including cutting meansassociated with each of said fingers along one of said sides. saidcutting means being adapted for severing said wires whereby said wirescan be seated in said terminals and trimmed along one of said sides ofsaid terminals in response to said hammer impacting said plunger.

6. Apparatus in accordance with claim 5 wherein said body includes teneach of said fingers and said cutting means whereby five pairs of saidwires can be seated and trimmed simultaneously.

7. Apparatus in accordance with claim 3 wherein said insert includes tenof said fingers whereby five pairs of said wires can be seatedsimultaneously.

8. Apparatus in accordance with claim 3 wherein said head furtherincludes an energy absorbing pad mounted between said insert and saidholder for absorbing excessive energy imparted to said plunger by saidimpacting.

9. Apparatus in accordance with claim 8 wherein said pad comprisesneoprene rubber.

10. Apparatus in accordance with claim 1 including a housing havingfirst and second end caps in in which said impact mechanism is mountedwith said plunger extending from an opening in said second end cap;

said hammer comprising a substantially cylindrical hammer having afirstflange around a first end thereof adjacent said second end cap;

said power spring extends between said first flange and said first endcap with said hammer substantially surrounded thereby;

trigger means in said hammer extending into said passageway for blockingmovement of said plunger through said hammer when a force is applied tosaid handle to thereby compress said power spring and for releasing saidplunger when said power spring is substantially compressed whereby saidpower spring moves said hammer to impact said plunger; and

said passageway includes a second shoulder therein;

said return spring being mounted about said plunger between said secondshoulder and said flange so that said return spring is compressed whensaid plunger is released by said trigger means.

1]. A tool adapted for uses such as terminating wires in bifurcatedterminals comprising an impact mechanism having a plunger fortransmitting forces. a hammer for impacting said plunger to impartforces thereto, a power spring for driving said hammer against saidplunger when said power spring is released from a compressed state,trigger means for controlling the compression of said power spring froman initial state to said compressed state and releasing said powerspring from said compressed state, and a return spring for returningsaid tool to said initial state, characterized in that:

said power spring surrounds substantially the entire length of saidhammer;

said hammer includes an internal passage there through in which aportion of said plunger is received; and

said return spring surrounds said portion of said plunger within saidpassage.

1. A tool adapted for terminating wires in bifurcated terminalscomprising a head for contacting said wires, a plunger on which saidhead is mounted for moving said head with respect to said terminals, andan impact mechanism for impacting said plunger to thereby apply forcesto said head to terminate said wires characterized in that said impactmechanism includes: a hammer having an internal passageway therethroughto receive said plunger therein, said plunger includes a flangethereabout and said passageway includes a shoulder around the peripherythereof adapted to impact said flange; a power spring surroundingsubstantially the entire length of said hammer for imparting a force tosaid hammer for impacting said plunger; and a return spring about saidplunger within said passageway for returning said plunger to an initialposition after said impacting.
 2. Apparatus in accordance with claim 1wherein said flange and said shoulder have conically tapered matingsurfaces whereby the tendency of said flange to deflect when said hammerimpacts said plungEr is reduced.
 3. Apparatus in accordance with claim 1wherein said head includes: a holder mounted on said plunger; an insertdetachably mounted in said holder and including a body adapted forinsertion over said bifurcated terminals, and fingers extending fromsaid body to contact said wires in said terminals, said fingers beingresponsive to said impacting of said plunger for seating said wires insaid terminals.
 4. Apparatus in accordance with claim 3 wherein saidbody includes first and second substantially parallel sides separated bya groove into which said terminals fit when said body is inserted oversaid terminals, said fingers comprise opposing pairs of said fingersextending from said sides into said groove whereby a respective saidwire is contacted on both sides of said terminal.
 5. Apparatus inaccordance with claim 4 further including cutting means associated witheach of said fingers along one of said sides, said cutting means beingadapted for severing said wires whereby said wires can be seated in saidterminals and trimmed along one of said sides of said terminals inresponse to said hammer impacting said plunger.
 6. Apparatus inaccordance with claim 5 wherein said body includes ten each of saidfingers and said cutting means whereby five pairs of said wires can beseated and trimmed simultaneously.
 7. Apparatus in accordance with claim3 wherein said insert includes ten of said fingers whereby five pairs ofsaid wires can be seated simultaneously.
 8. Apparatus in accordance withclaim 3 wherein said head further includes an energy absorbing padmounted between said insert and said holder for absorbing excessiveenergy imparted to said plunger by said impacting.
 9. Apparatus inaccordance with claim 8 wherein said pad comprises neoprene rubber. 10.Apparatus in accordance with claim 1 including a housing having firstand second end caps in in which said impact mechanism is mounted withsaid plunger extending from an opening in said second end cap; saidhammer comprising a substantially cylindrical hammer having a firstflange around a first end thereof adjacent said second end cap; saidpower spring extends between said first flange and said first end capwith said hammer substantially surrounded thereby; trigger means in saidhammer extending into said passageway for blocking movement of saidplunger through said hammer when a force is applied to said handle tothereby compress said power spring and for releasing said plunger whensaid power spring is substantially compressed whereby said power springmoves said hammer to impact said plunger; and said passageway includes asecond shoulder therein; said return spring being mounted about saidplunger between said second shoulder and said flange so that said returnspring is compressed when said plunger is released by said triggermeans.
 11. A tool adapted for uses such as terminating wires inbifurcated terminals comprising an impact mechanism having a plunger fortransmitting forces, a hammer for impacting said plunger to impartforces thereto, a power spring for driving said hammer against saidplunger when said power spring is released from a compressed state,trigger means for controlling the compression of said power spring froman initial state to said compressed state and releasing said powerspring from said compressed state, and a return spring for returningsaid tool to said initial state, characterized in that: said powerspring surrounds substantially the entire length of said hammer; saidhammer includes an internal passage therethrough in which a portion ofsaid plunger is received; and said return spring surrounds said portionof said plunger within said passage.